Track structure for toy electric railways



Oct. 28, 1930. J. c. KOERBER 1,779,605

TRACK STRUCTURE FOR TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAYS Filed Dec. 51, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY (I061: cKaenel \w. ATTORNEY Oct. 28, 1930. Yc KOERBER 1,779,605

TRACK STRUCTURE FOR TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAYS Filed Dec. 51, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet. 2

J08 fiyga's J U U IN'TIENTOR 105 85 E U Johzz CJQerber 74 bmchvifi lazmATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1930 I UNITED "STAT PATENAT YOF FICE 1* JOHNc. xonmma or SOUTH QRANGE, NEW JERSEY imex sTRncTU'REroIt TOY ELECTRICnAILwAvs,

Application filed December -31,192 8.; Serialloif329j9i2.

. This invention 're'lates toftoy railways and for mechanical orelectrical toy railways.

One object-of my invention is to provide an improved toy railway track,the rails of which are adjustable toward and away from one another, sothat the track may be altered n from a track of one gauge to trackofjanother above indicated and wherein means is provided foreleetrically connecting the rails to an external circuit; r I i Afurther obj ectof my invention is to provide an improved toy electricrailway track section with improved means for connecting the railsof thesection w1th one or more electric circuits and wherein the use of theusual conducting track clips is avoi ded.-

' Other objectsof my 'inventionwill appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of atrack section showing one embodiment ofmy invention and wherein the tracksection is shown as joined to sectionsof narrow gauge track. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 butshowing'my improved section joined to sections ofwide gauge track. V

Figurefi is a perspective View ofrthe improved track section shown inFigures 1 and 2.

I Figure 4 is-a bottom plan View of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line.55 of Figure 1. e

- Figure 6 is a top plan view of a track-section showing a modifiedformof my inven- I tion wherein the outside rails, each include a ser,tlinsulateilportion designed for use in the operation o f w moreparticularly to the track constructions 'y'side cross gates, or

similar devices;

f Figure 7 is abottom plaii viewiofthe structure shown in Figure 6. V ,7a :F'gure 8 i a sectional view taken on, the line 8-8 of Figure 6,

"Figure 9 is a perspecti veview of at'racli section showing a still:turther mo dification, and

Figure 10 is a perspectivegview of a jstill "further modified form of myinvention. v Q "Referring to'Figu'rel, reference characters 110" and 11represent: ends of narrow gauge track sections 'ofthe typecommonlyemployed intoy electriciailways' andjoinmg the ends 10" and 1"1'is' ashort track section 12 which .1 forms with the remaining sections acontinuous track, having two, outer, wheel bear ng rails and anintermediate th rd ra lor power frail.

The track section comprises ofinsulatingv material which is formed with"two longitudinal slots, 16 and :17, respectively, 'which extendinwardly from points ad] a- "cent to' thefopposite' "ends of the base.

Mountedto slide in the slots'16 and 17 are sheet inet alclips 18 and 19respectively, 'which" extend upwardly through the slots and are bent attheir upper ends over the flanges of the wheel bearing rails 20 and 2-1otithetrack section." For the purpdseof re- .taining the clips 18 and 19in'their respective slots, the bottoms of these clips are" formed withlateral extensions 22 which bear against the 'under-faceofthe base 15and bearing against the upper face of the base are sheet metal plates 30and -31; eachof which is provided with twoslots 32"through which 'theupper'ends of clip 18 or ,19 respectively, extend. Ifdesired the metalplates 30 and 31 may be made resilient so as to press upwardly againstthe lower face-of the'rail flanges and downwardly against the upper faceof the base 15 and in thisrnanner serve to hold the clips and attachedrails in their adjusted po sitions along; the base.

The metal plate 31 is formedat one corner withan extension 34 to whichis secured, as

.bysjmeans of fan eyelet '35, a terminal binding member or clip 36adapted to hold a terminal wire.

Rigidly secured to the base 15, between the rails 20 and 21 andinsulated therefrom, is a third rail or rail section 40. The third rail40 is secured to the base 15 by a sheet metal member 42, located beneaththe base and provided with lugs 43 which extend upwardly through thebase and are bent over the lower flange of the third rail 40.

Member 42 is "formed with a portion 44 which extends along the undersideof the base 15 and is secured. to the base at its outer end by an eyelet46. Eyelet 46 extends through the base and serves 'to hold a termin albinding member or clip 47.

The rails of the section 12 are formed of sheet metal, and have hollowtubular heads 29 in which are secured projecting pins 50, employed forconnecting the section to the adjacent sections of track as shown inFigures 1 and 2. The pins 50 project into'the tubular heads of thecorresponding rails of adjacent sections and serve to hold the tracksections together.

To adapt the section 12 for engagement with sections of a narrow gaugetrack, the rails 20 and 21 are pressed inward toward the centre rail sothat they occupy the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3. The section 12may then be joined to theadjacent ends of sections of narrow gauge trackin the usual manner by pushing the pins 50 of one section into thetubular openings at the rail ends of the adjacent section. To adjust thesection 12 for attachment to sections of --ra ils of the track to aterminal of an external circuit and also a second terminal means adaptedto connect the intermediate or third rail to another terminal of anexternal ci rcuit. By these terminal means the wheelbearing rails of theassembled track may be connected to one terminal of a source ofsupplyand the power or third rail to the other terminal of such source.

In the track section shown in Figures (Ste 8 incluslve. the adjustmentfor wide and narrow gauge is by movement of one of the wheel-bearingrails and the intermediate power rail, instead of by movement of both ofthe wheel-bearing rails as in the form of invention shown in Figures 1to 5. The modification shown in Figures 6 to 8 also differs from thatshown in Figures 1 to 5, in

that the wheel'bearing rails in the form of invention shown in Figures 6to 8, each comprise a number of insulated rall sections and provision ismade for connecting difierent rail sections with different terminals.

The track section shown in Figures 6 to 8 comprises an insulating base57, to which is secured a stationary wheel-bearing rail 58, a movablewheel-bearing rail and a movable third or power rail 60. The rail 58comprises end sections 63 and 64 respectively and an intermediateinsulated section 65. The end sections 63 and 64 are secured to the base57 by clips 66. Oneof the clips 66 which serves to secure the railsection 63 and one of the clips-66 which serves tosecure the railsection 64 to the base, may be extended beneath the base as indicated at68 and be connected by means of an eyelet 69 to a terminal bindingmember or clip- 70. In this manner the rail sections 63 and 64 may each.be electrically connected with an external circuit or the two railsections 63 and 64 maybe electrically connected with one another. Theintermediate insulated rail section may be connected to a binding clip72 by means of an eyelet 73 and a plate 74 secured to the bottom of thebase 57 bythe eyelet 73 and by one of the clips 66.

The intermediate adjustable rail 60 is secured to the base by means ofclips 76 and 77 which are movable respectively in slots 78 I and 79formed in the base 57. Interposed be tween the base and the power rail60 and held in position by the clips 76 and 77 are metal plates 80 whichare similar in form to the plate 30 shown in Figure 3.. The clip 77 isformed beneath the base 57 with an extension 82 whichjprojects outwardlyfrom one end of the base and carries a terminal binding member 84 whichis secured to the outer end of the extension 82 by an eyelet 85.

The movable wheel-bearing rail 59 is formed of three sections, two outersections 90, each of which is secured to the base 57 by sheet metalclips 92' which extend through and are'movable in slots 93 in the base.The wheel-bearing rail 59 also comprises an insulated intermediatesection 98 which is secured to the base by a clip 99 that extendsthrough and is movable in a slot 100 in the base. The clip 99'alsoserves to secure to the underside of the base, a metal strip 102whichforms an electrical connection between the clip 99 and themetalplate 74, thus serving as part of an electrical connection between theinsulated rail section 98 and the terminal binding member 72. Strip 102is preferably formed of resilient metal and bears downwardly against anoffset portion 105 of the plate 74, one edge of the strip 102 beinglocated between the offset portion 105 of the plate 74 and the bottom ofthe base 57 as shown in Figure 7. To prevent lateral movement of thestrip 102 awayfrom the plate 74 I may provide a guidingplate 108 securedto the bottom of the base 57 at the strip 102.

lVhile Ihave shown the end sections and the opposite edge of (theintermediate section 98 of the wheel bearingirail 59 as independentlyadjustable along their respective slots, it is 'obvious that theseseveralsections may be connected'together by insulating material sothatthe entire railsec tion 59 may be adjusted as aunit. a v

Also, while I have shown separate terminal means connectedrespectiVe-lyfto thepower rail and each of the sections of the rail58,it is obvious that in certain cases one or more of these terminal meansmay be omitted." v

z In the modification shown in Figure 9', I provide a stationary or"fiXedwh'eel-bearing rail 110,'a movable Wheel-bearing rail 111 and amovable third or power rail 112. The staj tionary rail 110 has a short'se ction: 115 Wll'iich isspaced at its ends andsoinsulated fromthefremainingiportions of the wheelebear ing rail 110. The rails 111 and112 aremo'vablei along 'wbeing h'elds by clips 122 which'extendthroughthe slots 120 formed in the base .l2liithese rails .andaremovablealongthe slots 51;; 1.1 a

Electrical connectionbetween a terminal of an. outside-circuit and: thethird rail'11 2cis through a binding member124 secured to an extensionof one of the clips 122.,thisexte1ifsioniheing shown in dotted lines inFigure T 1: Thelseparate sectionslof the wheel-bearing rail111Q aresecuredto the base-121 v by meanstof clips 128 which may be extendedbeneaththe ;[jase as in'dicatediinfdotted lines to form electricalconnection between each rail section land an eyelet 5129 and thencethrorigh'thdelyelet to the bindingimember 130. '1 1 It will be seen thatin the form ofimyfin ven- 'tion showninEigures 1 moi-hat provide a'Lfixed or stationary base': and adjustable rails and terminal 1means.army; ifgdesiredi make the terminal means stationary'and adapted to havesliding contact with the movablerails or some conducting-membersecuredto the movable mile; :1 maylalso' if desirediprovide mov- "ableoradj'ustable terminal means adapted to cooperate with a fixed base andfixedrails, the

terminal means being secured or clamped to "a toy railway track of widegauge on of'gnar row gauge with anfexternal' circuit and this terminalmeansis heldby a base orvtie which imam servesto support sections oftrack rail and furthermore-the terminal means; in being adjustedtoadaptit to' tracksof different gauge; is'movable relative to the basqorrail In the form of invention shown in Fig1ire '10;jinsteadgof pmvidingatraek section-with vable rails to adapt it for connection with ltra'eksectidns orwide omfialarrbw: gauge, 1

provide a short track' section with fivest'ationary rail sectionsarranged parallel to one fian- Equally spaced fromthe power railatioppo. site sides of the'power rail aretwo wheel-bearing rails 1 11which serve as a connecting means between the adjacent endsof thewheelbearing rails of narrow gauge track."Also locatedon oppositesidesof the :power rail and :spaced at a greater distance from'the l-powerrail are two rails 142 which serve as wheel-bearing rail'sections whenthe terminal device is used with track "of wide gauge. The rails 1 10-112 are shown Figure 10 as supported by a sheet metal base or-tie whichis formed with lugs 145 that serve to clamp or hold the lower flangesofthe railstothe top of the tie. The power rail 1 10 is insulated fromthemetal ofthe tie by a piecee'of flexible insulating material 14A, thisbeing -theusual 7 construction for insulating rails-from theirsupportingties. The remaining rails 141 and 142 are in electrical contact withthe'metal of the tie; To provide a meansfor connecting the rails 1 11and 142 with an external circuit I mount a binding member or clip 151 atone end of the tie, and I also provide suit-able means for connectingthe power rail] section 140 to a circuit terminal as the binding clip152 secured directlyto the power rail section. While have shown the railsections 140- 142 as attachedto and supported'by asheet metal tie of theusualform, it is obviousthat other supporting means may'be employed." 77 As a further modification of my invention, I may if desired mountsuitable wayside accessory such. as a signalkor station light ,onthe'b'ase ofany of theforms oftracksection herein disclosed, or I may insome" other way connect such device with the tracksection so that thetwo form a unitary structure. *Thus the endof the base 15 shown inFigures 1to5 oppositethe binding terminals 36 and arm he extendedso asto formva support forestation light and the circuit terminalsof thelight connected by flexible wires to"the bind ing terminals 36 andA7respectively. s V

A Or'if desired the accessory may beltorrned with a sheet metal basewhichforms a ground terminal for the accessory circuits and this baseextended soithat jfthe movable rail 20 slides in contact therewith, thusforming an electrical circuit connection between the binding terminalmembersBG which may be connected to a source of current and oneterminaloflthe accessory by way of the wheel-bearing rails. The other terminalof, the accessory maybeconnected by a conductor to thethird rail. J a. 1I r Havingnow described my invention; what other; 7' The centre section140'is employed as a power rail section for both wide and narrow gaugetracks and serves as a connection, between theadjacent ends'ofthepowerrail of standard Wide gaugeror'i narrow gauge track.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A short toy railway track section comprising a central power rail andwheel bearing rails at opposite sides of said power'rail and meanspermitting the attachment of said section to sections of track of wideornarrow gauge, so as to form, with either of said last named sections,a continuous track.

2. A short toy railway track section comprising a central power rail andwheel bearing rails at opposite sides of said power rail, meanspermitting the attachment of said section to sections of track of wideor narrow gauge, so as to form with either of said last named sections acontinuous track, and separate terminal means connected to the power andwheel bearing rails.

3. A tjoy railway track section having three parallel rails, two ofwhich are bodily adjustable toward and away from the remaining rail.

4. A toy railway track section having three jparallel rails, two ofwhich are adjustable toward and away from the remaining rail, andterminal members electrically connected to different rails.

5. A toy railway track section having two outside wheel bearing railsand an intermediate third rail, two of said rails being adjustabletoward and away from the remaining rail, so as to change'the track gaugeof the section. H

6. A toy railway track section having two outside wheel bearing railsand an intermediate third rail, two of said rails being adjustabletoward and away from the remaining rail, so as to change the track gaugeof the section, and terminal members, each electrically connected to adiiferent rail.

. 7. A toy railway track section comprising wheel-bearing rails and a.third rail, means connecting and serving to support said rails, andterminalmeans adapted to be supported by said supporting means, saidterminal means comprising an elementadapted to engage said railsupporting means and movable relative: to said rail supporting means toadapt said terminal means to tracks of difierent gauge. Y r c I a r 8. Atoy railway track section comprising wheel-bearing rails and a thirdrail,=means connecting and serving to support said rails and terminalmeans comprising an element adapted for holding engagement with andmovable relative to said rail supporting means, said element beingadapted to occupy difi'erent positions to adapt said terminal means totracks of diiferent gauge.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingbase, of rails supported by said base, one of said rails beingadjustable toward and away from another rail to adapt said track sectionfor use in tracks of different gauge and said base being formed to guidesaid rail in its movement.

10. A toy railway track section comprising an insulating base formedwith slots, a stationary rail secured to said base, a movable rail,holding means for said movable rail eX- tending through said slot andterminal. means electrically connected to said holding means.

11. A toy railway track section comprising a base, a stationary thirdrail mounted on said base, two wheel-bearing rails mounted on said baseat opposite sides of said third rail, said wheel-bearing rails beingmovable along said base toward and away from said third rail so as toadapt said track section for use in tracks of different gauge.

12. A toy railway track section comprising a base, a stationary thirdrail section mounted on said base, two wheel-bearing rail sectionsmounted on said base at opposite sides of said third' rail, saidwheel-bearing rails being movable along said base toward and away fromsaid third rail, so as to adapt said track section for use in tracks ofdifferent gauge, terminal means connected tosaid third rail and terminalmeans connected to said wheelbearing rails.

13. In a device of the class described a base having slots therein, apair of wheel bearing rails and a power rail mounted on said base, twoof said rails being adjustable relative to the'third rail to adapt therails for connection to tracks of different gage,

said slots serving as guides for the adjustment of said rails andcircuit terminals connected to different rails.

14. In a device of the class described an insulated base having slotstherein, a pair of wheel bearing rails and a power rail mounted on saidbase, two ofsaid rails being adjustable relative to the third rail toadapt the rails for connection to tracks of diflerent gage, said slotsserving as guides for the adjustment of said rails and circuit terminalsconnected to different rails.

15. A toy railway track section comprising a base, a stationary thirdrail mounted on said base, a stationary terminal mounted on said baseand connected withsaid third rail, two wheel-bearing rails mounted onsaid base at opposite sides of said third rail, said wheel bearingrails. being movable toward and away from said third rail so as to adaptsaid track section for use in tracks of diflerent gauge and aterminalconnected to a wheelbearing rail and movable therewith.

16. A toy railway track section having two outside wheel bearing railsand an intermediate power rail, one of said wheel bearing rails and saidpower rail being each adjustable toward and away from the remainingwheel bearing rail so as to change the gauge of the section.

17. A toy railway track section consisting of a central power rail andtwo pairs of wheel bearing rails, the two rails of each pair beinglocated at opposite sides of the power rail and spaced from said powerrail so as to permit one of said pairs to be used as wheel bearing railsfor vehicles of one gaugeand theother of said pairs to be used as wheelbearing rails for vehicles of another gauge.

18. A toy railway track section having two outside wheel-bearing railsand an interme diate power rail, one of said wheel-bearing rails andsaid power rail being each adjustable toward and away from the remainingwheel-bearing rail so as to change the gauge 7 of the section andterminal members 0011-} nected, respectively, to the power rail and awheel-bearing rail.

19. A short toy railway track section conslsting of a central power railand two pairs of wheel-bearing rails, the two rails of each pair beinglocated at power rail and'spaced om said power rail so as to'permit oneof said pairs to be used as wheel-bearing rails for vehicles of onegauge and the other of said pairs to be used as wheel-bearlng rails forvehicles of another gauge and terminal members connected, re-

spectively, to the power rail and a wheel bearing rail.

Signed at New York, in the county of New 1 York and State of New York,this 21st day 7 of December, A. V

JOHN C. KOERBER.

opposite sides of the I I

